BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace Limited, Dr. Allen Onyema, has lauded the interventions introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing them as “game changers” for Nigeria’s aviation industry.
Onyema highlighted one key breakthrough, being the new ability for indigenous airlines to engage in aircraft dry leasing, a milestone that was previously unattainable for over a decade due to Nigeria’s blacklisting by international lessors.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos, Onyema said the reforms, including the practical adoption of the Cape Town Convention, are enabling Nigerian airlines to now compete on more equal footing with their global peers.
“This window for dry leasing not only helps conserve our foreign exchange but will also translate into lower airfares for Nigerians,” Onyema explained.
He commended the government’s support in strengthening aviation safety, notably through the provision of advanced wildlife and bird strike control equipment across airports, and credited the administration with improving the overall business climate for indigenous operators.
According to Onyema, “President Tinubu is a detribalised leader who listens attentively to airline operators and Nigerian businesspeople on ways to grow our economy. He values diverse talents and is deliberate about promoting unity, especially supporting those who create jobs for Nigerians. This is why I appreciate his leadership, and why we must support our own.
“Thanks to Tinubu’s administration, we are now experiencing a level of ease in doing business that was unimaginable before. The appointment of Festus Keyamo to head the aviation ministry is proving to be a masterstroke. For the first time in a decade, Nigeria is now in a position to secure dry leases, the blacklist is history. The global aviation community’s perception of Nigeria is changing,” Onyema added.
However, he urged the federal government to further enhance connectivity by providing transit facilities at airports to better link regional and international flights.
“This would help streamline operations, reduce check-in bottlenecks, boost duty-free commerce, and generate additional revenue,” he said.
Onyema leveraged the occasion to announce that Air Peace has secured regulatory approval to commence flights between Abuja and London’s Heathrow Airport, starting October 26.
He revealed that the British aviation authority’s approval reflects “the growing confidence the international community now has in Air Peace.”
Onyema also disclosed plans to expand Air Peace’s network to new African destinations, including Congo, Gabon, and Brazzaville, before year’s end. Additionally, direct flights to the Caribbean are in the pipeline, with services to Antigua launching in September, followed by Barbados.
To meet its expanding route commitments, the airline is ramping up its fleet with the addition of wide-body Boeing 777 aircraft and other models through the newly accessible dry leasing arrangements.
“Currently, we have 36 aircraft outrightly owned and four on wet lease, with more acquisitions on the way,” Onyema confirmed.
He also assured passengers of improved service reliability, noting: “Since May 12, we’ve achieved over 85% on-time performance. For the new Air Peace you’re about to experience, expect even greater punctuality as we upgrade our customer service.”
Addressing concerns over flight delays and cancellations, Onyema clarified that 94% of such disruptions are caused by external factors beyond the airline’s control.
“Causes range from adverse weather conditions and infrastructural limitations to bird and animal strikes, inadequate landing aids, and sunset airport restrictions. For instance, in the past five years, we’ve logged 100 bird strikes — over 30 of them this year alone. These naturally impact flight schedules. We only cancel flights when absolutely necessary,” Onyema stressed.
He emphasised that Air Peace’s operations meet stringent international safety standards and disclosed plans to soon relaunch routes to China, along with other regional and international destinations.
